ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11852, 2 January 1902, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

THE BROUGH COMEDY COMPANY; The Opera House was crowded in all parts last night when the Brough Comedy Company gave their second and final performance of " The Magistrate." ' The clever farce met with well-merited approval. To-night playgoers will renew, acquaintance with Mrs. : Brough in R. C. Carton's comedy, "Lady Huntworth's -Experiment." ;-; As this play has never before been produced in Auckland, the following synopsis of the plot will be read with interest —Caroline Ray ward, % the central .figure, is the divorced wife of Lord Huntvvorth, an unprincipled aristocratic sot, whom she had married to meet the wishes of both families. Gambling, racing, tippling, and ■-.." other establishments," speedily depleted the fortune of Lord Huntworth and his wife, and the peer determined to divorce his spouse and turn* Ins title to good account by wedding a rich widow. Lady Huntworth was the stumbling block, but he overcame the difficulty by suborning domestics, and priming them with a story sufficient for his purpose. Glad to be released from the companionship of so abandoned a partner. Lady Huntworth, -''.to the surprise, of society, and with the certainty of social ostracism, declined to defend the suit. She secured theassistance of the man-with whose name hers was innocently coupled, and the result was a decree. Cast on her own resources, Lady Huntworth enlisted the sympathy of a lady friend of rank, resumed hor maiden name, and became cook to the vicar, of Stillford, the Rev. Audley Pillengef. It was in this guise that the audience made her acquaintance. Cook, as she is sty;:e<l, was too smart a woman to give herself away, and consequently she is more or less a mystery to the vicar's home circle, but is recognised .as a very .superior person. So much so that the' vicar, his guest (Captain Dorvaston), and 'Gandy (his man servant), all desire an alliance with so attractive a personality. Indeed, it is refreshing that in the creation of this character, Mr. Carton has given us an easy and natural study of a woman, who, by bitter experience, has become extremely mat-ter-of-fact, estimating men and things at their true value. The experiment which she .-undertakes arises . from the fact . that Cooking is her sole accomplishment. It brings her into contact with a variety . of clean-cut personages. These, however, she handles with such delicacy and tact as to secure her the good wishes of all the household, except the vicar's extremely proper sister, Miss Hannah Pillenger. The cast for tonight is as follows:—Captain Dorvaston, Mr Cecil Ward; the Rev. And ley Pillenger, Mr." Brough; the Rev. Henry Thoresby,' Mr Li-nest Vero; Gandy, Mr. Percy Walshe; Newspaper Boy, Miss Dorothy. Swift; Mr. Crayll, Mr. Leslie Victor; Miss Hannah Pil- \ in J4'or. Miss Susie Vaughah; Lucy Pillenger Miss Temple; Keziah, Miss Gillies BrownCaroline Rayward, Mrs. Brough. The box office will, be open at the Opera House today from nine a.m. ..DIX'S GAIETY COMPANY. Ihe American performers -Messrs. Murphy and Mack. and. the three Lentous are- announced to appear at the City Hall for three more nights only, as on Monday next the London artists, Miss Lizzie Kirk (a 11, tSrei 8 -rr I,n r i!, r T L °? n v audeville theatres). Mr,; Frank Leon (comedian and champion dancer), and Mr. Edgar Granville (monologue entertainer), will ma their first appearance in New Zealand. In the meantime- the present exceptionally strong company are meeting with the heartiest reception each evening: at. the City Hall foV crowded and delighted audiences. 7